A 17-year-old Spring Hill High School student was found guilty in the death of one of his classmates in 2024.
On May 15 in Miami County District Court, the suspect, a 16-year-old at the time of the murder, was found guilty by a jury for second-degree murder and interference with law enforcement in the death of a fellow 15-year-old boy from Olathe who also attended school at Spring Hill.
The suspect was tried as a juvenile. The Post is not naming the guilty party because he is a minor.
The verdict was announced after a five-day jury trial. Judge Elizabeth Sweeney-Reeder presided over the case.
The death occurred in December 2024
On Dec. 4, deputies were called to a house in the 22800 block of Lewis Drive at 2:58 a.m., according to a previous news release by Miami County Undersheriff Matthew Kelly.
The address is near 231st Street and Hedge Lane Road, about one mile southwest of Spring Hill, just over the Johnson County line.
The call requested an ambulance for an injured juvenile inside the house.
“Upon deputies’ arrival, they discovered the juvenile deceased inside the home,” Kelly said in the release soon after the killing. “A second juvenile was transported to a hospital as a precautionary measure.”
The release went on to say that investigators from the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Unit were called in to assist with the investigation after Miami County investigators obtained a search warrant for the house.
“During the investigation, the juvenile at the hospital was taken into custody and brought to the Miami County Sheriff’s Office,” Kelly said. “The juvenile was subsequently transported to a juvenile detention facility.”
The deceased teen was identified as a 15-year-old male from Olathe. Both teens were students at Spring Hill High School and were not related.
On Dec, 14, 2024, the Spring Hill teenager was charged with first-degree murder and one count of interference with a law enforcement officer by attempting to conceal, alter or destroy evidence, a felony in the case of being done in the commission of a felony, according to Kansas statute.
Victim’s family thanked supporters
Shortly after the victim’s death, a GoFundMe campaign raised about $13,500 for his family.
“(The victim) cherished a multitude of things in his life. Loving his family and taking care of those around him made up who he was as a genuine person. Playing baseball, gaming, and hanging out with his many friends are just a few examples of the things he loved,” the GoFundMe stated.
In January 2025, the victim’s mother thanked everyone for their support.
“To say thank you for all the love and support we have received will never be enough. The countless messages, calls, texts, donations, gifts, letters, meals, and prayers are beyond words,” she wrote on social media. “It just further proves how much (the victim) was loved and how much he meant to so many people and how devastating his loss is. (He) made an impact on so many people and I don’t think he even knew it. He so freely shared his love, kindness, generosity, humor and compassion with everyone he met and I thank God every day that he did.”
What’s next
The defendant, now convicted, is scheduled for sentencing at 9 a.m. on July 14 in Miami County District Court.
